Obama honors Oprah, Bill Clinton and more with Presidential Medal of Freedom

Oprah and Bill Clinton are getting the spotlight for being awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom, but there were also 14 other awards given. Politico gave the rundown.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom medals started in 1963, less than a month after John F. Kennedy was shot. Lyndon Johnson disseminated the awards. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Kennedy's death. He was assassinated on November 22nd.

The honorees are perhaps one of the most diverse groups of people: Country singer Loretta Lynn; feminist Gloria Steinem; retired baseball player Ernie Banks (aka Mr. Cub from the Chicago cubs team). The former Illinois Senator himself has joked he's a Red Sox fan. Joe DiMaggio, Jackie Robinson and Ted Williams are some past baseball player recipients of the Medal of Freedom.

Other awardees included Nobel-winners Daniel Kahneman (psychologist) and chemist Mario Molina; jazz musician Arturo Sandoval; former University of North Carolina basketball coach Dean Smith; civil rights activist Cordy Tindell "C.T." Vivian; and Patricia Wald, who is on the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, and was formerly a D.C. Circuit judge.

In giving the anticipated award to Bill Clinton, Obama listed all the things he's thankful for from him. "I'm grateful, Bill, as well, for the advice and council you offered me on and off the golf course, and most importantly for your lifesaving work around the world, which represents the very best in America," Obama said.

When talking about Oprah Winfrey, he kept things light, recounting how she was once advised to change her name to Suzy. Obama joked, "I got the same advice."

Posthumous awards went to Senator Daniel Inouye, a democrat, civil rights activist Bayard Rustin and astronaut Sally Ride. In reference to Sally Ride deciding to become an astronaut, Obama teased: "All of us have moments when we look back and wonder, what the heck was I thinking? I have that quite a bit."

Tonight the award recipients will dine and celebrate at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in John F. Kennedy's honor.